IT Contract Day Rates by State: What Moves Them

Day rates move with supply, demand and budgets. 📉📈 Here is what is driving them right now.

Factors that push rates up

• Scarce skills: ServiceNow ITOM, SAP S/4HANA, cyber, data engineering
• Security clearances, especially NV1 and above
• Urgent start dates
• Tight local markets such as Perth and Adelaide

Factors that push rates down

• Federal contractor reduction targets increasing competition in Canberra
• More available candidates in states with higher unemployment, like Victoria at 5.1%
• Long contract terms with stable work

State snapshot

• ACT: pressure from federal cuts, but cleared specialists hold value
• NSW and Victoria: large markets, rates driven by skill scarcity
• Queensland: infrastructure programs adding demand
• WA: resources sector competition
• SA and NT: defence demand for cleared people

For more, read day rates explained.

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Sources

• State unemployment rates, September 2026 (ABS data via GDP.com.au)
• TrueSource Consulting: government contractor reduction and consulting spend